Chapter 234

< World War II - Saving Field Marshal MacArthur (1) >

January 26, 1942

The U.S.

capital, Washington D.C.

- The United States Capitol

[The United States of America Attacked!]

[The Empire of Japan's Vile Surprise Attack! America's Sons Have Fallen!]

[Pearl Harbor Unilaterally Violated, Whose Responsibility Is It?]

Monday morning, after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

As newspaper headlines were plastered with Japan's surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, the entire United States was in an uproar.

On his way from the White House to the Capitol, U.S.

President Wendell Willkie listened to the reports with a grim face.

“The dry docks have sustained damage, but it seems they'll be usable after about a month of repairs.

The problem is the fuel storage tanks. Nearly half have been destroyed, and we are struggling to extinguish the fires caused by the mix of heavy oil and aviation fuel.”

Willkie’s face clouded over. The situation in Pearl Harbor was likely nothing short of a sea of fire.

“Deploying the Atlantic Fleet to the Pacific will be impossible, then.”

“Yes.

We can manage to operate the surviving fleets of Admiral Halsey and Admiral Fletcher from the Pacific Fleet, but deploying the Atlantic Fleet has become difficult.”

“…What about the forces that were at Pearl Harbor?”

“The battleships Pennsylvania and Oklahoma, and the aircraft carrier Saratoga have been completely destroyed.

We'll have to assess the other ships after the fires are extinguished. We lost 230 aircraft, and most of the remaining planes are severely damaged…”

“This is serious.”

Willkie let out a deep sigh.

“Still, it is certain that Admiral Halsey's CV-6 Enterprise ambushed the returning enemy air wing and inflicted serious damage.

The air group the Empire of Japan mobilized for this surprise attack on Pearl Harbor has been almost annihilated.”

In truth, Admiral Halsey's success was a stroke of luck.

He had been en route to Midway before sailing north at full speed, but finding the Japanese attack force's carriers in the vast ocean was no easy task.

This was especially true because their fleet was located even farther away than the United States had predicted.

The only reason Halsey was able to catch the returning enemy carrier aircraft was thanks to the destroyers that had been dispatched to search for missing fishing boats and had found the enemy first.

The Japanese attack force, returning with depleted munitions and heavy airframe damage after the third attack, suffered severe losses from the fierce assault of the carrier-based aircraft launched from the Enterprise.

“But we didn't get any of their ships, did we?”

“W-Well, the Naval Air Service seems to be saying there was a problem with our torpedoes…”

Willkie furrowed his brow, and the Chief of Naval Operations, Stark, bowed his head apologetically.

“Nothing is going right.”

The Enterprise did launch an attack on the enemy aircraft carrier fleet, but with little time left before sunset, it failed due to issues with proficiency and equipment.

'Still, we didn't just take a beating without doing anything.

'

With that thought, Willkie stepped out of his car as he arrived in front of the Capitol.

“Mr.

President, a word on the current situation, please!”

“What is the specific extent of the damage?”

“Will the United States be fighting alongside the Allied Powers?”

Shaking off the reporters, Willkie entered the Capitol building, where Secretary of State Taft was waiting with a pale face.

“…Mr.

President.”

“What is it?”

“We've received an official letter from the Soviet Embassy.

They state that the Soviet Union had no discussions whatsoever with the Empire of Japan regarding this surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, and express deep regret for the disaster that occurred—”

“Ha, haha…”

Willkie wiped his face with his hand.

“This morning, the Soviet Union declared the annulment of their alliance with the Empire of Japan and announced that they would not interfere in the conflict between the United States and the Japanese Empire.”

“The commies are squirming to save their own skin.”

Willkie quickened his pace without even asking for the opinion of Taft, who was, after all, the Secretary of State.

Taft could only follow behind the President without a word.

Taft's fall from power was already a certainty, if only for the sake of assigning blame.

And Wendell Willkie, though a Republican President, was practically a Republican in name only.

He had no intention of shielding Taft and the Republican Party now, but he knew he, too, would inevitably take a hit.

The Democrats and their congressmen were just waiting to tear the Republican Party to shreds in the congressional hearings.

As the President and Taft entered the conference room, a storm of shouts and jeers erupted.

“Your Republican Party has dragged America's pride through the mud!”

“Mr. President, is it true that Germany warned of the Pearl Harbor attack?”

“This incident is a disgrace unprecedented in the history of the United States of America!”

Walking toward the podium, Willkie thought of FDR, Roosevelt.

He had stood as a strong leader, even overcoming his lower body paralysis.

FDR, would he have been able to handle a crisis like this?

What would the young German Minister of Defense, chosen as Time Magazine's Person of the Year over the man who had been elected president, have done?

In any case, he was the current President of the United States.

It was his role to channel all this chaos and anger into America's strength and lead the nation to victory in the war.

In the chaotic crucible of Congress, a swirl of doubt, anger, and jeers, Willkie stood at the podium, briefly closing his eyes before opening them again.

“January 25, 1942, yesterday, a weekend, the United States of America was deliberately and suddenly attacked by the naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.”

Willkie opened his incredibly heavy mouth.

“The United States of America will remember yesterday as a day of disgrace.”

---

January 29, 1942

Weser-Ems, Wilhelmshaven, Northwestern Germany

[The United States of America Declares War on the Empire of Japan!]

[The Soviet Union Denounces the Empire of Japan and Annuls Its Alliance!]

[A Victory for the Empire of Japan? Or the Beginning of the Empire's Ruin?]

[Minister Schacht Declares Japan's Defeat Is Decided!]

I read the newspaper articles before putting them down.

“We have arrived, Minister.”

“Thank you, Mr.

Berger.”

I left the newspaper and stepped out of the car.

When Wendell Willkie addressed Congress and requested a declaration of war against Japan, the U.S.

House of Representatives and Senate passed it on the same day.

The congressional hearings revealed that Germany had warned of the Pearl Harbor attack in advance and that the President had tried to prepare, but failed due to opposition from the Republican Party and a lukewarm military.

Naturally, America was turned upside down, and a significant portion of the U.S.

government's leadership, including Taft, was replaced.

Seeing the Democrat Cordell Hull become the new Secretary of State, it was easy to guess just how cornered the Republicans were to have to crawl to the Democrats.

Whatever their internal affairs, it was good that America had finally joined the Allied Powers, but…

“Welcome, Minister.”

I gave a casual acknowledgment to the people greeting me from all sides and watched the scene where a military band and an honor guard were waiting with a troubled gaze.

The wait was not long. Soon, ships began to dock at the port of Wilhelmshaven.

A man wearing cavalry riding breeches, who at a glance gave off the impression of 'I am a super-macho Yankee,' disembarked first, wearing a helmet with three stars.

Swallowing the feeling of an impending sigh, I put on a broad smile.

It's nice that they sent someone, but of all the people they could have sent, why him?

“A pleasure to meet you, General. I am Dietrich Schacht, German Minister of Defense and Minister of Propaganda.

Welcome to Germany.”

“Oh, it is an honor to meet a man whose fame is so widespread even in America! I am Lieutenant General George S.

Patton, commander of the Expeditionary Force! Hahaha!”

Patton returned my handshake with a truly powerful grip.

Seriously, how could I get the illusion of smelling gunpowder and sweat from a man who had just stepped off a ship? Even Rommel wasn't this intense!

“Colonel Albert Wedemeyer, Chief of Staff of the Expeditionary Force.

I have heard much of your reputation, Minister.”

“A pleasure to meet you, Colonel Wedemeyer.

I look forward to working with you.”

As was to be expected, the welcoming ceremony for what 'was' the advance party of the United States Expeditionary Force was cordial.

My own feelings, however, were complicated.

Patton's unit, which was supposed to be the advance party of the U.

S. Expeditionary Force, had suddenly become its main force with the attack on Pearl Harbor.

With Pearl Harbor hit and the Philippine Offensive seeming imminent, the U.S.

had changed its plans, deciding to commit the volunteer army it had been frantically preparing for the Eastern Front to the defense of the Philippines instead.

When Stalin astutely severed ties with the Empire of Japan, the United States devised a strategy to deploy its most readily available troops to the Philippines instead of the Eastern Front.

The justification of sponsoring a free Russia? Who cared when the homeland had been turned upside down.

Honestly, the Philippines was a strongpoint that had to be defended no matter what, but it wasn't as if U.

S. troops could even arrive there immediately…

I got into the car with Patton, who immediately lit a cigar upon sitting down.

I glanced at him before speaking.

“General.

Since we are now allies, would it be alright if we had a frank discussion?”

“Oh, of course!”

“Is America's strategy for the Eastern Front unchanged?”

“It is not.”

What, this madman says it's unchanged? The 500,000 troops have been reduced to 200,000!

“We came here to launch an offensive as soon as spring arrives.

The equipment for that will continue to be transported as well.”

“From Germany's perspective, since the promised U.

S. troop numbers have been reduced, we believe it's only right that the strategic objectives should also be changed.”

Patton took a drag from his cigar and smiled faintly.

“That seems to be a matter you'll have to discuss with my home country.

The United States has shown its sincerity to Germany in its own way.”

“…”

This incident had created a very strange relationship between the United States and the Soviet Union.

The U.S.

had joined the Allied Powers but had not declared war on the Soviet Union, and to be honest, we didn't want the U.S.

to declare war on the Soviets right now either.

The U.

S., for its part, was in a situation where it had to show some kind of result against Japan immediately, and it didn't want to disperse its forces by declaring war on a Soviet Union that was now groveling before it.

From Germany's perspective, even if the U.S.

declared war on the Soviets, it couldn't project its forces immediately. Coupled with the Free Russia issue, it could lead to a situation where we would actually have to finish off the Soviet Union, which was also undesirable.

As a result of this convergence of interests, the U.S.

was an Allied Power but not in a state of war with the Soviet Union, creating the ridiculous situation where Patton's advance party, which was already on its way by ship, would be fighting the Soviets as volunteer soldiers.

And regarding the significant reduction in the promised 500,000 troops—

America solved it in a very American way.

The United States passed the 'Alliance Support Act,' purchasing large quantities of bonds from the Eastern Front nations and even starting to provide equipment to countries that requested it.

They were basically screaming, 'Show me the money'…

“The equipment promised to support the Free Russian Army has also been greatly expanded, so in terms of combat power, there won't be that much of a difference.”

Patton said with a grin, oblivious to my inner turmoil.

Since the immediately available troops were limited, they were paying their way with money.

We'd certainly received what was promised, so I couldn't really complain, but it felt incredibly strange.

From the American perspective, they didn't want to hear that the Republican Party had done nothing while Japan was preparing to attack them.

So, while immediate additional troop support to the Eastern Front was difficult, they were also in a difficult position to openly sever ties with the Free Russia movement.

In this situation, if the U.

S. commander were a perceptive and clever man, he might have been able to adjust by, say, appropriately slow-playing things, taking the delicate political situation into account…

I narrowed my eyes and looked at Patton.

Patton, considering the political situation and appropriately slacking off while avoiding engagement? As if that would ever happen.

Ah, of all the American generals, why did that man have to be the commander of the expeditionary force?

Should I just hope that Vlasov, who has now been stabbed in the back twice by his supposed sponsor, America, will exercise some self-restraint?

I finally turned my gaze away and let out a secret sigh.

For now, the Philippines was far more important, and defending the Philippines rested in the hands of Dönitz and Admiral Marschall, who were already out there.

As for America's war against the Soviets, I could probably worry about that a little later.

For the sake of securing the Ukraine theater, we'd have to fight one decisive battle with the Soviets once spring arrived and the Rasputitsa ended. I had no choice but to find a way to handle that knight born in the wrong era…

I just hope that warmonger doesn't go running wild with those Free Russian bastards.

---

January 30, 1942

British Malaya, Singapore – Imperial Japanese Army Southern Fleet Headquarters

“Admiral, I beg you to reconsider just once!”

General Imamura Hitoshi of the Imperial Japanese Army bowed with the utmost respect.

The Japanese Army and Navy were practically mortal enemies.

They usually avoided even speaking to each other, so for the commander of the Philippines Invasion Force to be bowing his head was unheard of.

Even the Navy staff officers were flustered, but Imamura was desperate.

“Admiral, the escort fleet for this Philippines invasion operation consists of only one light cruiser and nine destroyers!”

Every soldier in the Japanese military knew that the Philippine waters were crawling with German U-boats.

In such a situation, was it even conceivable to assign a mere 10 auxiliary ships to escort the critically important transport fleet of the Philippines Invasion Force?

In this absurd situation, Imamura had directly requested a reinforcement of the escort fleet from the Southern Expeditionary Army Group Command, but his superiors, who didn't want to go begging to the Navy, had refused.

Deeply disappointed, Imamura had flown to the Southern Fleet Headquarters himself to plead his case.

“Admiral, I beg of you.

The capture of the Philippines is an operation that must be accomplished for the sake of the Empire, but at this rate, countless soldiers of the Empire will have to endure unnecessary sacrifices!”

Imamura's sincerity was so palpable that even the members of the Navy, who normally shuddered at the thought of the Army, seemed somewhat moved.

However, Admiral Nagumo Chuichi, commander of the Imperial Japanese Navy's Southern Fleet, wore an extremely cold expression.

“General Imamura.”

“Yes, Admiral.”

“During the Battle of Ceylon, which command was it that said they had no troops to commit to the occupation?”

“…The Army's Southern Expeditionary Army Group Command, sir.”

That was the end of the words, but Admiral Nagumo Chuichi’s face turned red as if he were boiling with rage on his own.

“The annihilation of the Special Naval Landing Forces is your Army's fault!”

“Th-That is…”

So they hadn't provided troops, but why on earth was the failure of the transport fleet escort the Army's fault?

Imamura felt extremely wronged.

“Your Army exposed the disgrace of the Empire—the annihilation of the transport fleet! You turned my victory against the Royal Navy into a laughingstock!”

But Nagumo, who had been turned into a laughingstock because of the Army's exposé despite fighting well and winning, and who had lost the command of the all-important Pearl Harbor attack to Ozawa, was already seeing red.

“And you dare bring up the transport fleet in front of me! Just how far does your Army's shamelessness extend!”

“A-Admiral. I am sorry about that as well.

But we are in a position to decide the fate of countless young men of the Empire! Now is a time for more than personal feelings—”

“Aargh, be quiet! Leave my headquarters at once! I have no intention of lending any help to your damn Army!”

In the end, Imamura was met with an order to leave and had to leave without getting much of a word in.

Stepping outside in a state of dejection, Imamura looked at the faces of his staff officers, who were staring only at him, and let out a sigh that felt like the ground would collapse.